More than 100 members of CREWBaltimore and guests listened to panelists speak about the State of Our State — and specifically downtown Baltimore — at CREWBaltimore’s first luncheon of the new year on Jan. 19.

Panelists included Allison Mayer, Managing Director of Marketing & Communications for the Department of Commerce, Shannon Landwehr, President of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, Kirby Fowler, President of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, and Jane Shaab, Senior Vice President, RPC, Assistant Vice President for Economic Development at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. The insightful program was moderated by CREWBaltimore member Nancy Ferrell, Managing Director for the Baltimore Regional Office of NorthMarq Capital.

The panelists all had one very clear message: downtown Baltimore has an optimistic future. Baltimore is fifth in the country for innovation and also fourth in the country for the number of advanced degrees (with more than 30 colleges in the area). To help foster this innovation, Baltimore is proud to host a number of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces.

All of the panelists agreed that collaboration with the new mayor, Catherine Pugh, is key to promoting the successes of Baltimore. With many more projects slated for Baltimore, the future is very bright.

(Photos Courtesy: Whitney Wasson)

Carly Peters, L&H Business Consulting; Lindsey Kiefer, JP2 Architects; Amy Lacock, JLL

Panel Moderator Nancy Ferrell, NorthMarq Capital, Dept of Commerce's Allison Mayer and Shannon Landwehr of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore.

Downtown Partnership of Baltimore's Kirby Fowler and Jane Shaab of University of Maryland – Baltimore

Kristen Pleasants, Base Point Advisors and Michele Cohen, Miles & Stockbridge, P.C.

Melanie Carrera, Savills Studley; Elizabeth Jennings, Capital One Bank; Tammy Baczynskyj, VSC Fire & Security, Inc.; Laurie Marino, JLL